Bengal School Uses Dark-Complexioned Man’s Pic To Teach ‘U For Ugly’, Teachers Suspended

The #BlackLivesMovement in America has inspired Indians to call out our very own racist tendencies. Desi people have an inherent preference for fair skin which has been highlighted by our obsession with fairness products and calling dark-skinned people derogatory names. We have identified the problem. Now it’s time to fix it. But how?

The answer lies in attacking the problem at its grassroots. Children as young as 3 to 4-year-olds are taught that dark skin is ugly, while fair skin is beautiful. Even today, children are conditioned to believe so via textbooks.

this was in a children’s book from SE asia from facepalm

For example, a school in Bengal was found using an alphabet textbook which read “U for Ugly” using an illustration of a dark-complexioned man, reports Hindustan Times.

The incident took place in Burdwan. The school teachers had selected the textbook to teach the pre-primary school children. 2 teachers have been suspended after parents complained of such teachings and the education department took charge, reports NDTV.

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“We have zero-tolerance for acts which instil prejudices into the minds of students,” said Education Minister Partha Chatterjee.

Obsession with fair skin is found more within families. Certain members tend to flinch when a dark-complexioned baby is born into the family. In arranged marriages, parents of the groom look for fair brides. These people too have been conditioned from childhood to believe that darker complexions are ugly.

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We need to unlearn these notions and reject such prejudices which can be only done by educating ourselves. Since schools have the power to make new generations inclusive and more empathetic, education authorities should be extra vigilant on the kind of textbooks they are using.

At home, the more informed elders should keep a track of what their kids are learning by conversing with them and asking them the right questions. If we do not check discriminatory learnings of children, they too will grow up prejudiced against dark-skin.

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